Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-11-19
UNCLE SANS ARMY.

:
It Consists, According % the Report of
General She idan, of &c. 1876 Omcers and
en-kecommendatiOns Regarding the
Indians, Coast Defenses, and the State
Militia.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16-Lseutenant-Ge GEN
eral =. 81 Sheridan in his annual report say
that according to the las, consolidated
returns the army consists Of 1900
officers and "a 236 men, including
Indian scouts Touching the recent
Indian troubles the General says that
in order to quiet the restless young
men among the Grow Indians General Ruger
has been authorized to enlist about thirty of
their number as scouts and take them to
Fort Custer. The Crows have always been
friendly and make it a boast that they have
never killed white man, and it would be a
great pity if any thing should now
occur to disturb the peaceful relations Of
30 long standing. General Sheridan is
confident that General Ruger will be able to
effect permanent settlement that will be
satisfactory to the Crows as well as to the
Government.
In regard to the concentration of the
army in the larger posts, the report says
that work on the new post at Denver will
shortly be commenced; that at San Antonio
year; the ground for the new post near
Chicago will pass into the possession Of the
Government at an early day, and at Fort
Smelling both the reservation and other at
tendant conditions are fay orable for the es-
Enlistment Of a large garrison. An addi-
tional appropriation will be necessary to
finish the reconstruction of Fort Riley.
General Sheridan does not look favor
ably upon the proposition of General Miles
to separate the Indians now at San Carlos
into several camps about one or two
hundred miles apart Divided into
different bands, he says, each To-
cation might become the center
of disturbances, and the difficult
ties of their supervision would be greatly in
or eased. Tie General expresses regret at
the fact of a slight increase in the num-
Der of assertions during the year, and
sees no remedy for it He looks
favorably on the new plan of monthly
payments. The recruiting service,
he says, has enlisted an increased number
of good men. Discipline is good. The ar
tillery, infantry and cavalry schools are re-
ported to be doing good work, and the
army has greatly improved in rifle practice
The General renews his recommendation
that 5, 200 men be added to the army.
the time is near at hand when the army
should be supplied with machine guns, and
tnat unless an effective arm of this charac-
ter is developed by an American manufact-
urer very soon tee Governments should adopt
some foreign repeating gun. On the subject
OF our coast defenses the General saws that
they have continued to dateriorate during
| the year; that adequate defenses must be
the work of years and attained at heavy
outlay. In the meantime, he says, the dyn-
amite-gun experiments show valuable quail
titles and good results within their range.
and that experimenting with view to their
further development should be encouraged
General Sheridan concludes his report as
follows:
II am strongly in favor Of the general Gov
eminent extending all poss bic aid to the Ma
tlonal Guard of the different States as they con-
st1tute body OF troops that, in any emergen-
cy, would form an important part of our mill
tary force. They should be armed with the
best weapons, amply prov ded with complete
j camp and garrison equipage, and instructed in
the various drills and exercises according to
the tactics and systems followed in the regular
| army. According to my observation and ex-
perience, most Of the State troops now march
well and handle the gun WE'LL but they are
deficient in discipline and in all the duties that
| teach soldier to take care Of himself while in
camp or upon march. This defect can best be
overcome by establishing some system of en-.
campment under the control and direction and
at the entire expense of the general government
In the development of such measure the en-
Tire army as Well as myself personally, will be
glad to render such assistance as les in our
| power, and recommend that the favorable
| consideration OF the subject may be commend.
ed to Congress-"